. Before returning to the
drawing-room after dinner, he carried Roderick off to the library for a
little private chat. There were a few matters of business to be
discussed, and when they were finished, Mr. Graham said casually:

"I suppose you run the affairs of Brians and McRae yourself these days.
I hear Ed's off after another will-o'-the-wisp as usual. Let me see, I
believe it's a temperance bee he's got in his bonnet this time."

Roderick was silent. The contemptuous tone nettled him. He would not
discuss Lawyer Ed with Alexander Graham, no matter what the consequence.

"Well, well," said the host, giving the fire a poke, and laughing
good-naturedly. "Those fellows must do something to take up their
time. But it's a pity to see them wasting it. For that thing won't go
here in Algonquin, Rod. Take my word for it. And if it did, it would
be a great pity, for such a law wouldn't be kept. Of course, if Ed
Brians and Archie Blair and J. P. Thornton, and a few other fanatics
like that, are bound to meddle with other people's consciences, I
suppose we'll just have to let them do it. 'If it plazes her, it don't
be hurtin' me,' as Mike Cassidy said when Judy hammered him with the
broomstick. I hope they'll enjoy themselves."

Roderick looked up quickly. "It is not a mere pastime with my father.
It is a thing of great moment to him," he said.

"Oh, well, of course," said Mr. Graham suavely. "I can understand
that. Your father is a man who has devoted his life to drunks and
outcasts, and he looks on temperance legislation as a refuge for them.
I have no doubt he is quite sincere in the matter."

"I should just say he is," said Roderick rather explosively.

"That's quite true, Rod," said his patron, a little annoyed. "But your
father, with many another good man, is making a great mistake when he
believes people will be benefited by temperance legislation. Some
folks seem to think that if you get local option in a town the
millennium has come." He lit a cigar, and leaned back with an air of
finality. "I tell you they're awfully mistaken. People want liquor
and they'll get it as long as they want it, law or no law. And they're
going to want it till the end of time. And if those folks insist upon
forcing this by-law upon Algonquin, they will only succeed in giving
the town a bad name. It's simply ruinous to a place from a business
standpoint."

Roderick had no answer to make. He was inclined to be